Project information

Second Chance for Girls

A staggering 70% of students in India drop out before grade 10 and the number of girl drop outs is even higher. The Second Chance programme for Girls gives them a chance to go back to education and get a school leaving certificate.

Charity information: Pratham UK

Need

The problem of illiteracy amongst girls is very severe in South Asia because of social factors such as discrimination against the girl child, parents not spending time and money educating girls, early marriage, childbirth etc.
Educating a girl is very valuable as you end up impacting an entire family.

Solution

Girls enrolled in the Second Chance programme first complete a foundation course before spending a week at an intensive local training centre once a month. Here subject specialists run intensive lessons. A local tutor then guides each girl through homework and lessons daily, to ensure an understanding of the secondary school curriculum.
The entire Second Chance programme runs for 15 months at the end of which the girls sit the school leaving exam.

Impact

Track the girls who have successfully finished the Second Chance Programme and get them to testify to the results on their lives through videos.
Track enrollment in vocational skilling programmes by girls and see impact on family finances
Track the children of these girls and measure learning levels as compared to average

Risk

Family pressures - parents or husbands objecting to the residential course since it requires the girl staying away from home.
However, Pratham is an established NGO with a proven track record and excellent links with the community so there should not be much opposition.

Reporting

We can report to donors at the end of the 15 months with detailed pass percentages of the girls based on their exam results as well as subjective assessment of how the programme impacted the girls and the community they live in

Location

Beneficiaries

Why Us?

Pratham is India's leading education NGO with the skills and resources to operate this programme. It is a highly credible NGO which has won international awards, as well has earned the trust of village elders, families and the Indian government.
Pratham operates in 20 out of 29 Indian states and has a volunteer base as well as trained teachers.